DIPOLOG CITY - The elements of the Zamboanga del
Norte Provincial Police Office(ZNPPO) has confiscated 34 assorted firearms
during the continuing implementation of Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun
ban in the province of Zamboanga del Norte.
Police
Superintendent James B. Mejia, provincial director of the Philippine National
Police (PNP) in Zamboanga del Norte Zamboanga del Norte, said of the 34
firearms confiscated, 14 firearms came from the Zamboanga del Norte Public
Safety Company (ZNPSC) which conducted regular checkpoints in various strategic
points throughout the province, while the rest were firearms turned-over by the
different municipal police stations in the province.
Aside
from the firearms confiscated from the operations conducted by the local police
force, 43 high-powered firearms and 121 low-powered firearms were also
surrendered by the gun-holders to the ZNPPO.
The
Comelec gun ban has been implemented starting Jan. 13, 2013 until June 30,
2013.
In
preparation for the upcoming election on May 13, Mejia said the PNP will
continue its peacekeeping initiative to ensure the conduct of a peaceful
political exercise.
The
ZNPPO expects and augmentation force from the PNP Regional Command during the
election period.
According
to Mejia, his office is always in close coordination with the Comelec and the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for a collaborative effort toward the
conduct of a peaceful balloting in the province.